Pin attach converter

Abstract

A pin attach converter for coupling an electrical contact to a printed circuit board may include a compliant region having a first length adapted to traverse an aperture in a printed circuit board and provide mechanical and electrical registry with at least one wall of the aperture. The pin attach converter may also include an adapter region coupled to the compliant region, and having a cavity with a second length and adapted to receive the electrical contact, where the second length extends along a same longitudinal axis as the first length, and the cavity is adapted to provide mechanical and electrical registry with the electrical contact.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pin attach converter for coupling an electrical contact to a printed circuit board, comprising:
 a flat compliant region having a first length adapted to traverse an aperture in a printed circuit board and to provide mechanical and electrical registry with at least one wall of the aperture; and 
 an adapter region coupled to the compliant region, the adapter region having a cavity with a second length, the cavity adapted to receive the electrical contact and to provide mechanical and electrical registry with the electrical contact,
 wherein the second length extends along a same longitudinal axis as the first length, a first portion of the cavity extending coincident with the second length has a first diameter and a second portion of the cavity extending coincident with the second length includes a conical tip having a base with the first diameter and linearly sloped sides extending from the base to a point at the end of the second portion. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The pin attach converter of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical contact is a solder tail pin. 
     
     
       3. The pin attach converter of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the adapter region includes a plurality of teeth radially extending from at least one wall of the cavity towards the same longitudinal axis for engagement with the electrical contact. 
     
     
       4. The pin attach converter of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the adapter region is adapted to engage the electrical contact by crimping. 
     
     
       5. The pin attach converter of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the adapter region is adapted to engage the electrical contact by soldering. 
     
     
       6. The pin attach converter of  claim 1 , wherein both the compliant region and the adapter region include a metallic coating. 
     
     
       7. The pin attach converter of  claim 1 , wherein the compliant region provides electrical registry between the electrical contact and the at least one wall of the aperture. 
     
     
       8. The pin attach converter of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is a plated through hole. 
     
     
       9. The pin attach converter of  claim 1 , wherein the canonical top includes a charge of solder. 
     
     
       10. A pin attach converter for coupling an electrical contact to a printed circuit board, comprising:
 a flat compliant region having a shoulder portion and a compliant portion coupled to the shoulder portion along a longitudinal axis of the compliant region, and configured to compress by interference a wall of an aperture in a printed circuit board to provide at least one of mechanical and electrical registry the wall; and 
 an adapter region having a first end with an opening forming a cavity having a height extending along a same longitudinal axis and adapted to receive an electrical contact, and a closed second end coupled to the compliant region along a the longitudinal axis, wherein the closed second end includes a conical tip portion having a base with a first diameter and linearly sloped sides extending from the base to a point at the end of the closed second end, the conical tip portion adapted to receive a portion of solder. 
 
     
     
       11. The pin attach converter of  claim 10 , wherein the electrical contact is a solder tail pin. 
     
     
       12. The pin attach converter of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the adapter region includes a plurality of teeth radially extending from at least one wall of the cavity towards the same longitudinal axis for engagement with the electrical contact. 
     
     
       13. The pin attach converter of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the adapter region is adapted to engage the electrical contact by crimping. 
     
     
       14. The pin attach converter of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the adapter region is adapted to engage the electrical contact by soldering. 
     
     
       15. The pin attach converter of  claim 10 , wherein both the compliant region and the adapter region include a metallic coating. 
     
     
       16. The pin attach converter of  claim 10 , wherein the compliant region provides electrical registry between the electrical contact and the at least one wall of the aperture. 
     
     
       17. The pin attach converter of  claim 10 , wherein the aperture is a plated through hole.